top 3 advice from dad for college : 

1) be open-minded with people (their background, beliefs, ideas...) 

2) time-management. 

3) don't think too seriously about a problem. surprisingly the solution is often a very simple one. 

he told me that he thinks that a person's maturity is measured by how understanding we become of a diversity of backgrounds... religion, social status, political beliefs... developing people skills and such. learning to be 'okay' with their beliefs, though different from yours, is crucial and most desirable, he said. i told him, i agree that it is important, but i think there's got to be more... understanding them, then... caring for them... 

it's interesting how he said, you are not going to go anywhere or gain anything by thinking about what you're losing in a relationship. 

time-management. need i say more. and just having some... physical strength/good habits/health

i agree on some level that often times 'solutions' are quite simple contrary to how complicated we make a problem appear to be (whether it'd be relationships, financial problems, internal conflicts? i don't know about the last one.). but i told him that the solution may be simple... but the process to get there may not be so. it may really be as complicated as it seems, esp. with relationships. 

i asked him... then what are some things that we should take seriously... because i told him, it's scary how it's a matter of how you look at things. because it really is, dependent on how you think... you could be so hopeful, but you could also fall so easily. and he told me the things you seriously think about should be of your own... other people-related shouldn't be. 

then i asked... but how about if you simplifying it makes it 'easier' for you, or 'solves' it for you, but it burdens the other or doesn't do anything for the other? he said then you need to give it up. i think he meant just let it be. things you can't help 

but man. i will never get out of this because 'my issues' and 'other people-related' ones are constantly interacting. 

i asked him what are you most worried about me going to college?

he told me... meeting people, interacting/forming relationships with them, not necessarily the getting along part but just the emotional stress from them. i agree with this part

it was a pretty meaningful conversation i had with him over dinner. 

it's just me and him in the house right now. 

i am going to have one of these with my mom when she comes back, 

boy am i going to be in confusion/conflict after that one. haha. they're so different. nearly opposites. but so am i... but i am also in need of their experience and wisdom. 

more than that, i think it's important to show them that their opinions and their beings are still valuable to me.